Gielinor Games/Marathon

The contents of this page no longer exist in RuneScape, and this article is kept for historical purposes.

A checkpoint. You have to pass within a few square radius to "tick it off".

The Marathon was an event available during the 2012Gielinor Games. It was set in three different locations that, spread throughout Gielinor. The aim was to run through all of the checkpoints and complete the course as quickly as possible. The Marathon did not run all the time on all worlds, but was announced through the in-game chat box on all servers. There were 3 Marathon courses. Players received Constitution experience and contribution points based on their Constitution level and how fast they complete the marathon.

Many players expressed confusion about the Marathon, expecting Jagex Moderators to host the event. In actuality, the event commences itself without any action by Jagex Moderators. The marathons seemed to occur on the same worlds at the same time everyday.

Contents

Running a marathon

Checking in

When a message in the chatbox said that the race has started, participants passed through the starting checkpoint (a pair of large torches, also known as gates), and a yellow arrow appeard on the minimap indicating where the next checkpoint is. As you passed through each checkpoint in order, you received a red bannered message in the middle of your screen accompanied by applause and cheers or booing. The magnitude of the cheers told you if your pace is excellent or just average. If you missed a checkpoint there will be "boo-ing" from the audience.

Strategy

Since the marathon only tracked checkpoints and not routes, direct running/walking was not strictly required. Teleportation could be used to speed up legs. Trying to visualise the route before the race and work out where teleports could save time.

There was no limit on the number of marathons that could be attempted in one day. However, there was a 30,000 experience cap. After completing a marathon, you could begin another lap by tagging any gate to reset the lap, then return back to the starting gate.

Once the checkpoints appeared they stayed active for approximately 60 minutes by game ticks rather than real time, so any lag caused by the world server would affect the number of laps that can be done before the checkpoints disappear.

When a participant logged out or is disconnected from the game, all checkpoints were reset, and the player had to return to the starting point.

Event times

Time (UTC)

World

Marathon

1:00 am

2

Morytania

1:00 am

1

Varrock

4:00 am

124

Edgeville

5:00 am

2

Varrock

7:00 am

26

Morytania

9:00 am

8

Varrock

10:00 am

137

Edgeville

1:00 pm

2

Morytania

1:00 pm

1

Varrock

4:00 pm

124

Edgeville

5:00 pm

2

Varrock

7:00 pm

26

Morytania

9:00 pm

8

Varrock

10:00 pm

137

Edgeville

Varrock Marathon

The reward scroll for the Varrock Marathon.

Worlds and times

1am UTC - World 1

5am UTC - World 2 (see notes)

9am UTC - World 8

1pm UTC - World 1

5pm UTC - World 2

9pm UTC - World 8

Note: On 1 August 2012, at around 4:30 am UTC, a marathon was announced to take place in World 3. However, the 1 minute warning said the marathon would take place on World 2, and was subsequently held there.

When trying to get through the Al Kharid toll gate, do not click on the gate. An error in the coding sequence takes the player to run in a loop just before the gate, due to the massive amount of people spam clicking on the gate. Talk to the border guards to be let through.

Teleports may be used for some checkpoints. For example, South Falador Teleport may be used to get from checkpoint 6 to 7. Falador Teleport (use the tablet if using South Falador Teleport, which is a Lunar spell) or the lodestone counterpart may be used to get from checkpoint 7 to 8. A combat bracelet may be used to get from checkpoint 9 to 10 (not very far between, though). An amulet of glory may be used to get from checkpoint 10 to 11 (not very far between either). A Lumber yard teleport scroll cuts time between checkpoints 12 and 13.